Sally Johnston Memorial Service

Sally (Sarah Ann Cox) Johnston

Sarah Johnston, known (it seems by everyone) as Sally, died peacefully in her home in Vail with her family and friends gathered around her. Sally, in addition to being a teacher, a lodgeowner, an entrepreneur, a musician, a public speaker, board member and community leader, was a key figure in the founding generation of Vail.

Sarah was born into a skiing family with three other sisters in Lyons Falls, New York, the daughter of an English teacher and a school principal. She started her career as a music teacher, but turned her focus to work with students with severe emotional disabilities.

In 1963, Sally’s sister, Renie Gorsuch moved to Vail alongside Paul Johnston. Renie opened the iconic Gorsuch’s Ski Store in the clocktower building, and Paul opened a nightclub called the Nu Gnu in the basement of the clocktower with Sally’s best friends, the Hanlons. Sally came out to Colorado to visit her sister and friends, and fell in love with Paul.